Presidential hopeful and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, and former lawmaker and presidential aide, senator Ben Obi, on Saturday officially registered with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The political leaders converged in Awka for the formal flag-off of the party’s membership registration exercise in Anambra State, urging supporters to return to their wards and register while mobilising new members to join the party.
While Obi registered at Agulu Ward 2 in Anaocha Local Government Area, Umeh registered at Aguluzigbo Ward 1 in the same local government, while Ben Obi registered at Agulu Awka in Awka South Local Government Area.
The ADC leaders also vowed to challenge the newly passed Electoral Act 2026 in court, alleging that the law was designed to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the registration exercise, Obi said several provisions in the new electoral law were skewed in ways that could enable electoral manipulation.
“All the laws being hurriedly churned out now are simply aimed at enabling them to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it,” Obi alleged.
“But this time, we will catch them. We have seen all the review of the Electoral Act, and INEC has no reason to dictate how parties should elect their candidates.”
“INEC should focus on how to conduct elections. They now choose to abandon their work as referee and then want to teach a coach how to select their players,” Obi said.
The former governor also accused those in power of prioritising electoral control over governance.
“We are now the country with the worst power problem, but what they are talking about is how to snatch and run with election results. This time, we will not let them run,” he added.
On the prospects of the ADC ahead of the next general elections, Obi said political leaders across the South-east were working together and engaging stakeholders from other parts of the country to build a united opposition front.
“On this journey, the South-east is working as a family. All the notable political leaders are here in ADC and we are discussing with other parts of the country,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to register massively with the party, stating that the 2027 election would be a contest against what he described as poor leadership.
“We want to register as many people as possible because the election of 2027 will be against bad leadership,” Obi said.
Chairman of the event, Senator Ben Obi, said the party’s goal was to build unity and ensure success in future elections.
“I want to assure you that no one will be cheated. We all have one goal and the goal is to ensure that Peter Obi becomes the president,” he said.
He added that party leaders were already engaging stakeholders across the country to strengthen the ADC’s political base.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Registration Committee, Rt. Hon. Benchuks Nwosu, disclosed that 150 membership cards would be distributed to each of the 326 wards in the state, with one register allocated per ward for the first phase of the exercise.
